Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 27, 1995 TAG: 9503270106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
To keep his Hokies shielded from Manhattan's bright lights as long as possible, the Virginia Tech men's basketball coach sent the club north on a late flight Sunday afternoon for tonight's semifinal of the 58th National Invitation Tournament.
The Hokies were the last of the NIT's Final Four contestants to hit the Big Apple, arriving at 6 p.m. Sunday. While Foster caught a 7 a.m. flight Sunday to make a noon media luncheon, the team worked out in Blacksburg under the direction of the assistant coaches.
``Hopefully, they'll get in late enough where maybe they don't know what city they're in,'' Foster said. ``We have only two kids who have been to the city, so our guys will be a little big-eyed and bug-eyed. I just hope it doesn't carry over until 7 o'clock'' when Tech faces Canisius in a semifinal.
The Hokies will have a shoot-around at Madison Square Garden at 10 a.m. today.
``By the time we eat breakfast and shoot, that won't leave much time before the game,'' Foster said.
Don't get the idea Foster doesn't want his club to enjoy New York. He just would like the first victory in the books before the fun begins.
``The kids should have plenty of time Tuesday and Wednesday to do a lot of things,'' he said. ``I want them to have a good time.''
DEANE OF COMEDY: Mike Deane, Marquette's coach, supplied the humor at Sunday's media luncheon.
When asked about his team's matchup with Penn State in tonight's second semifinal, Deane said:
``Here we are, perhaps the worst shooting team in the country [41 percent from the field, 62 percent from the free-throw line] still playing. If this were a prom, we wouldn't have a date. My assistants and I sit and try to make a novena just to try to shoot 42 percent and win one.
``Now, we face a Penn State team that likes to slow it down and be patient. The first game will be up-and-down, high-scoring, exciting, and our game could be in the high 30s, low 40s [score], depending on how well Bruce Parkhill's team shoots. Bring your pillow for our game.''
NIT BITS: Penn State rallied in all three games to get to New York. The Nittany Lions came from 20 down to beat Miami at home, 12 at Nebraska and 13 at Iowa. ``I don't know how anybody could have a tougher road,'' Parkhill said. ... Tech needs to keep Canisius off the free-throw line. The Golden Griffins shoot 72.8 percent from the line and made 23 of 25 second-half free throws in upsetting Washington State in a quarterfinal. ... The 3-pointer has been big in Tech's NIT arsenal. The Hokies have canned at least six 3s in each of their three victories.
by CNB